Car-coupling.



No. 746,079. PATENTED 1330.0, 1903. P. HIBN.

OAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED snr 10, I900. no menu. I 4 sums-51mm: 1.

KRIS PLYERS cn. PHOYU-UTNQ, WASHINGTON u. c.

No. 746,079. PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903; P. HIEN.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOA ON FILED SEPT. 10/1900. no MODEL. 4 sums-SHEEN.-

I WUEEIEEE M? Ari PATENTED DEC. 8 1903-.

P. HIEN. GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION 31mm SEPT. 10. 1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

ASW

PATENIED DEC. 8, 1903.

.1. 1mm. GAR COUPLING. APPLICATION F IL ED BEP'L 10. 1900.

' 4 SHEETS-S EET 4.

K0 MODEL.

E %a M f 7 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Patented Decemberfi, 1903. l

PHILLIP .HI-EN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID S. WEGG, OF

CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

sPEGIFIGATION forming. part of Letters Patent N 6. 746,079, dated December 8, 1903. Application filed September I0, 1900. Serial ITO-29,523. (No model.)

full,clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawin'gs, and

to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part'of this specification.

This invention relates to car-couplers of that class known as the 'Janney or Master Car-Builders coupler. Heretofore in inventions of this class, the draft being ontirely on the pin whereby said'knuckle is pivoted in the draw-head, the breaking of said pin or the jolting of the same out of its seat in the draw-head has caused the train to break in two, frequently causing serious ac=' cidents and endangering life and property.

My invention contemplates, together With other important improvements, means for locking the tail of theknuckle in the drawhead in such a manner that the pivot-pin may be entirely removed without the train breaking in two. i

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a car-coupler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 4:: is asection taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a coupler, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a-view similar to Fig. 5, showing the coupling -pin elevated. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the knuckle in its uncoupledor retracted position. Fig. 8 is a section of the same, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig; 9 is a side elevation of the locking-pin in its elevated position and supported upon the pendulumdog. Fig. 10 is a view of the same in rear elevation. Fig, 11 is a; view similar to Fig. 10, showing the position the parts assume when the knuckle-tail swings outwardly and supports the locking-pin. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a stop embodied in my invention. Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the similarly pivoted in the draw-head by means of a pivot-pin C.

D indicates a locking-pin extending downwardly within the draw-head through an aperture through thetop thereof.

The knuckle of said coupler' is provided with a tail B, extending withinfthe drawhead at approximately right angles with the jaw B. Said tail B, as shown, is relatively thin vertically at its rear or inner end and broad horizontally and is provided on-its back or outer side intermediate of the pivot and the rear extremity of the same with a laterally and forwardlydi'rected integral hook I), which is adapted when the knuckle is in its closed or coupled position to interlock with a complemental projection a on the inner wall of the draw-head, as indicated in Fig. 3. On the inner side of said tail approximately opposite the hook I) is provided a vertical surface, herein shown as plane and approxi- .with the effect of locking the hook of the knuckle-tail into engagement with the complemental projection a on the draw-head, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. I

As shown, the draw-head is materially reduced in weight, while retaining the maxi-- mum of strength, by coring out the interior of the same in a familiar manner and providin g integral strengthening-webs, as more particularly indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. If constructedin this manner instead of cast solid, as obviously could be the case, such webs will preferably surroundthe aperture for the 5 IOO by (L2 a are transverse of the draw-head, of such height as to permit the knuckle-tail to swing over the same and of sufficient length as to form stops or lateral support for the lower end of the locking-pin D, as indicated in Fig. 5, when the knuckle is in its locked or coupled position.

For the purpose of supporting the lockingpin in its elevated position, or that in which it is out of engagement with the knuckle-tail, I have provided a gravity-acting or pendulum dog E, pivoted in the top of the drawhead and provided at its lower end with the head a, adapted to engage the lower end of the locking-pin when the same is in its elevated position, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, in which the dotted line indicates the upper surface of the knuckle-tail. As shown, the locking-pin D is provided on its side thereof opposite the tail with a longitudinal groove and is made wider at its lower than at its upper end. The stop E is adapted to fit in the aperture in the draw-head at the side of said locking-pin and is provided with a tongue adapted to close the groove of said pin to prevent rain or snow finding its way within the coupler therethrough. Said stop is provided on its under side with a transversely-apertured lug which depends therefrom adjacent to the groove of the locking-pin, and said pendulum-dog is pivoted to said lug by a pivot-pin E which, as shown, passes through side flanges surrounding the locking-pin on the top of the draw-head and is secured therein by means of a cotter-pin or other suitable device, herein indicated by e. The length of said pendulum-dog is such as to permit the head e thereof to depend in the line of movement of the knuckle-tail and to be knocked out of engagement with said locking-pin thereby as the knuckle-tail swings outwardly to its uncoupled position, thereby permitting the lockingpin supported on said head a to drop upon the knuckle-tail, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, and to ride thereon until the knuckle is again swung inwardly to its coupled position, when the locking-pin drops downwardly to lock the knuckle, as before described. For the purpose of preventing said pin from being jarred out of engagement with the head e of said pendulum-dog the upper surface of the head of the same inclines downwardly away from the knuckle-tail. The lower end of the locking-pin D is complementally inclined, so that when the pin islifted and the head of the dog swings beneath the same the weight of said pin resting thereon, as indicated in Fig. 10, acts to hold said parts in engagement until the dog is knocked from beneath the same, as before described.

In car-couplers of this class it is important that means be provided for limiting the outward swing of the knuckle to hold the relatively wide tail in a position to project well out into the space between the draw-head and the knuckle, so that the opposing coupler in the act of coupling will engage this tail and push the same back into locked position, and to prevent the locking-pin coming down hehind the tail, and thus locking the knuckle in its open or uncoupled position. For this purpose I have provided at the extremity of the knuckle-tail, on the rear side of the same, an integral rearwardly-extending projection 19 adapted to engage an upwardly-projecting web a ,integral with the bottom of the coupler or draw-head, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. As shown, the knuckle-tail is provided on its upper side with a rearwardly-extending lip or flange adapted to receive and supportthe locking-pin during the outward swing of the knuckle. The front end of the draw-head is provided with a relatively narrow slot at the side opposite the pivot-pin to receive said lip or flange. Obviously, if preferred, the knuckle-tail may be made longer than herein shown,and said lip ortiange maybe omitted. When constructed in this manner, however, it necessitates the cutting away of the front end of the draw-head to a greater extent than when the lip or flange is used and for that reason is not herein shown.

For the purpose of preventing the lockingpin from creeping upwardly with the motion of the earl have provided means for locking the same in its locking posit ion, which I term a lock tothe look, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and ll. Said lock to the lock consists, as shown, of a clevis G, pivoted to the outer apertnred end 61 of the locking-pin by means of a pin 9 passing through the aper tured ends of said clevis and the aperture in said end d of said locking-pin and secured therein by a cotter-pin or other suitable means. Said clevis is provided on one side thereof with a laterally and rearwardly directed hooked arm G. Any desired means for lifting the locking-pin may be employed, but preferably the familiar devices secured to the car end, comprising a hell-crank provided with a chain one end of which is socured in said clevis, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10, and 14. On the top of the draw-head is provided a laterally and rearwardly directed horizontal flange e in position to be engaged to the hooked arm G when the pin is in its locking position, at which time the clevis falls to the position indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 14, thereby effectually locking the lockingpin from being raised. When it is desired to lift the locking-pin, the clevis is first raised by means of the chain or otherwise, thereby swinging the hook of the arm G out of engagement with the flange e and permitting the lifting of said locking-pin. For the purpose of preventing the clevis falling over when elevated the lower ends of the same are provided with projections g g, which engage the head of the lockingpin before the clevis reaches a vertical position, thereby insuring that the weight of the clevis and arm G,together with the chain end, will cause said clevis to fall to its locking position.

Obviously, many of the details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of tny invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knucklepivotally supported therein,a sliding locking-pin for said knuckle having a laterally-projecting portion, a pen dulum-dog depending from a pivotal point in the path of movement of said laterally-projecting portion on the locking-pin and adapted when the locking-pin is elevated toswing by gravity under and support said lockingpin, said dog extending into the path of the tailpiece of the knuckle and adapted to be engaged thereby and removed from beneath the locking-pin when thekn uckle is opened, said pin dropping upon and being supported by the tailpiece when the pivoted dog is re-- moved from beneath the same, the pend ulunr, dog being held by the tailpiece out of contact with the pin until the tailpiece is closed 'when the dog swings into engagementwith the side of said pin and is thereby prevented from interfering with the dropping of the pin into its locking position; substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle pivotally supported therein, a vertically-sliding locking-pin the under surface of the lower end thereof ,being upwardly inclined, a pendulum-dog pivoted in the upper part of the draw-head to swing toward said locking-pin, and a projection 011 the lower end of said dog having an upper face inclined toward the locking-pin and adapted to swing by'gravity under the latter so as to be engaged by the inclined lower end of the locking-pin to support the latter.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle pivotally supported therein, a vertically-sliding locking-pin having a longitudinal groove in oneside extending to the lower end thereof, a pendulum-dog in the upper part of the draw-head pivoted to swing in the plane of said groove, and a projection on the lower end of said pendulumdog,whereby when the locking-pin is elevated the dog swings by gravity into said groove thereby permitting said projection to extend beneath the lower end of the locking-pin to support the latter. i

4. In acar-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle pivotally supported therein, a vertically-sliding locking-pin havingagroove in one sideextending to the lower end thereof, apend ulum-dog in the upper part of thedraw-head pivoted to swing in the plane of said groove, and lateral projections on the lower end of said dog of greater extent than the width of said groove whereby when the locking-pin is elevated the pendulum-dog swings by gravity into said groove thereby permitting said lateral projections to extend beneath said pin at either side of the groove therein.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head having an opening in the top for a locking-pin, a knuckle, a locking-pin working in said opening, a stopi'or the pin secured to the draw-head over said opening, a'pendulu'm-supportingdog for the locking-pin pivoted to said stop and having apart adapted when the knuckle is in its closed position to swing under and engage a part of the pin, substantially as described.

In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head having an opening in the top for aEl cking-pin, of a knuckle, a locking-pin i in Said Opening, and having a longitudinal channel therein, a stop for the pin secured to the draw-head over said opening and having a tongue working insaid channel in thejpin and also having a depending lug, and a fpendulum-su pportine dog for said lockingpin pivoted to said lugand adapted toengage a part of said pin, substantially as described.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having an opening in the top,

of a knuckle, a locking-pin therefor working iii said opening and having a longitudinal channel and also having an enlarged lower end, and a' stop for said pin secured to said draw-head over said opening and having a tongue working in saidchannel and adapted to engage the enlarged lower end of the pin to prevent its withdrawal from the opening, substantially as described.

-8. In 'a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head having a vertical opening therethrough and having alaterally-projecting lug on the top thereof at one side of the vertical opening, of a knuckle pivotally mounted in the coupler-head, a vertically-slidinglockingpin located in the vertical opening in thecoupler-head and having a lug on its upper end, a U-shaped clevis the ends of which are located on opposite sides of and are pivoted to said lug on the locking-pin, therebyaifording means for lifting the pin, and a hooked arm rigid with the clevis extending from one of the sides thereof between its upper end and its pivot transversely to the plane of movement of the clevis and adapted to positively engage said lug on the coupler-head when the locking-pin isin its locking position, substantially as described.

*9. In a car-coupler, the combination with a -con pler-head having a vertical opening therethrough and havinga laterally-projectinglug on the top thereof at one side of the vertical opening, of a knuckle pivotally mounted in the coupler-head, a vertically-sliding lockingpin located in the vertical opening in the coupler-head and having a lug on its upper end, a U-shaped clevis the ends of which are located on opposite sides of and are pivoted to said lug on the locking-pin, thereby affording means for lifting the pin, a hooked arm rigid with the clevis extending from one of the sides thereof between its upper end and its pivot transversely to the plane of movement of the clevis and adapted to positively engage said lug on the coupler-head when the locking-pin is in its locking position, and a projection on one end of said clevis adapted to engage the top of the locking-pin before said clevis assumes a vertical position, substantiall y as described.

10. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle pivotally mounted therein, a sliding locking-pin for said'knuckle having a laterally-projecting portion, a pendulum-dog depending from a pivotal point in the path of movement of said laterally-projecting portion on the locking-pin, said dog adapted when the locking-pin is elevated to swing bygravity under and support the same.

11. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a knuckle therein, a pin adapted to lock said knuckle in its closed position, said knuckle having a tailpiece provided with a flange for supporting said locking-pin, and a stop beneath the flange, said flange working in a recess in the draw-head of less width than the recess in which the body of the tailpiece works and said stop being adapted to engage a shoulder formed in the draw-head between the narrow and wide recesses and thereby prevent the flange from swinging out from beneath the locking-pin when the knuckle is opened, substantially as described.

12. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle pivotally supported therein, a vertically-sliding pin adapted to lock said knuckle in its closed position, a flange extending horizontally from the end of the tail of said knuckle, a stop beneath the rear end of said flange formed by cutting away said tailpiece beneath said flange, said stop adapted to engage a shoulder on the draw head formed between the openings therein for the tailpiece and said flange and thereby prevent the flange from swinging out from beneath the locking-pin when the knuckle is opened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILLIP I-IIEN.

In presence of- G. W. HILLS, LOUIS J. DELSON. 

